IMPORTANT! Do you dive with a DAN Tag attached?

[ScubaSteve]

Well, somewhere in this thread, DAN was compared to auto insurance in that it does not prevent the accident from happening. This is very true. One big difference is that when I pay for my auto insurance, my premiums (as outrages :11: as they are ) pay for the services they provide. It was said that these tags help pay for what DAN provides....however, the sale goes to another company, not DAN, and only a portion of the proceeds go to DAN. By this philosophy, I should have to pay for my auto premiums, and then buy my proof of insurance slip separately. CRAZY talk right? I am sure that if I paid DAN what I pay my auto insurance provider, everyone at DAN would drive Mercedes and I would get hundreds of tags with membership . All in all, DAN is relatively inexpensive piece of mind for me.

Well, before I am forced into the Whine & Cheese section, I am pleased to let DandyDon know that I just placed my online order for the tag and will proudly display it (for safety) upon receipt. My opinion, is that it is a good idea to display it safely somewhere

 

[hvulin]

what is a DAN tag and why should it be on me? all my documents (including DAN card) are in my bag on boat (or on shore)

 

[Bubble Junky]

It has your name and insurance number on and DAN contact info. Rescues aren't always made by the boat the victim was diving from......

 

[Quero]

You're in DAN America. It's different from DAN Asia. I think ours are made sturdier, but waiting on Almightwife to find hers and shoot pics.

Here's the Asia one. Don't know why you would imagine the $20 is sturdier, but this one is pretty tough and very functional, although it's not customized for the member, nor does it come with any bells and whistles like a mirror. It attaches with a simple cable tie.

 

[Divenomad]

JBD,


"I dive in such a manner as to reduce the risks to the lowest possible level I can and then I accept what that is. No insurance policy or I.D. tag can do that for you or me."


I know this sounds like I'm a snot, but I really don't mean it that way. I had a job where the very description of the job title was your statement above. It was security risk management consultant for multinational corporations. I am willing to bet you are a skilled, careful diver with a lot of experience. To be honest, I see the tag as an extra, but I disagree that you mitigate all possible risks if you lack insurance. You have a substantial risk of financial loss if you lack insurance. You have an excellent rep here, and I would not hesitate to dive with you ( I am insured) but I am concerned about the message not having insurance sends to students who have neither your skill set or level of experience. Students in every discipline do as the teacher does, not always as they say.Students also rarely have the financial wherewithal to make payment arrangements in a foreign country.

I'm not so concerned about you, you can clearly make decisions for yourself,you're an adult who has, as you say, studied the risks. It's the message your students take away. Not trying to change your mind, but I admit to mystification as to your reasoning.

-Nomad

 

[Doc Intrepid]

what is a DAN tag and why should it be on me? all my documents (including DAN card) are in my bag on boat (or on shore)

First of all, Hrvoje, I was just in Zagreb, Croatia last month, and I wish I'd recalled your location. I would have looked you up and bought you a beer! Next time.....

Second, the most important bit of information on your DAN tag is the name, location, and contact phone number of your primary care physician. The DAN tag is on you (not attached to your gear on whatever charter boat you dove off) because if you are found incapacitated, unconscious, unresponsive, (or dead - but thats a different set of issues,) etc. the finder will hopefully do something to try to help you.

But what?

You may have a heart condition, you may have diabetes, you may have low blood pressure, etc. etc.

If you are found unconscious by another diver, the DAN tag rapidly establishes who you are, who your Doctor is (who may be able to shed some light on your condition and what the probable causation of your distress is), and gives that persons phone number to call. This is helpful to DAN physicians to try to determine whether you are suffering from some sort of barotrauma or have had a heart attack, stroke, or other issue related to your medications, medical condition, or your medical history.

If you're a person in moderate health and middle-aged, and you're going to go diving in some remote vacation destination, clipping a DAN tag off somewhere on your rig isn't a bad idea at all in my humble opinion.

For what its worth.

 

[DandyDon]

Here's the Asia one. Don't know why you would imagine the $20 is sturdier, but this one is pretty tough and very functional, although it's not customized for the member, nor does it come with any bells and whistles like a mirror. It attaches with a simple cable tie.

Thanks, Quero! Looks adequate enough, if one fills it out legibly and of course uses it. Yeah, ours are custom printed, the info sealed within the tag, come in a choice of fashionable colors - you how how USAmericans are, and include the mirror. Giving every member of DAN Asia a somewhat lessor yet still adequate tag included in membership probly does a lot more good overall.

I suspect that the reason that DAN America does not include tags may be mostly because they have to compete with other insurance plans, but I wonder what the cost difference would be for us here if they were included?

For any DAN America member who does not want to spend the money on a fancy tag, I suppose one could attach the actual membership card to a BC, or wear it like a dog tag hung from the neck, but the latter approach could scratch skin I suppose .

DAN Asia Tag

​

 

[jbd]

JBD,
I know this sounds like I'm a snot,.....

Divenomad I've not taken any of your comments in that way. All is good.

You have a substantial risk of financial loss if you lack insurance. You have an excellent rep here, and I would not hesitate to dive with you ( I am insured) but I am concerned about the message not having insurance sends to students who have neither your skill set or level of experience.

Not trying to change your mind, but I admit to mystification as to your reasoning.

-Nomad

Agreed there is risk of financial hardship. Insurance can mitigate this. Now is here the kicker which in all honesty I had forgotten about until a discussion today about this issue, I am covered by my regular health insurance policy. This is something I had checked into a long time ago and had simply forgotten about it. As an earlier respondent has noted, not all health insurance policies will cover diving injuries. Many do as long as the diving falls into what is normally considered recreational diving. My take on that is shallower than 130 fsw, no overhead etc, etc. So it would be wise for each person who is diving to check with their health insurance provider and find out if they are covered or not and what they need to do to be covered. In some cases that can be accomplished by adding a clause or rider to the policy. This may cost extra or it may not. Certainly worth asking.

Even with insurance, the best policy is to do everything possible to not need the benefits of that policy by being well trained, well practiced and fully informed of the risks inherent to diving.

 

[adurso]

Do not wear one. DAN member but insured through Dive Assure, health insurance coverage covers dive accidents as well. Should I perish, even if my remains are skeletonized, I have enough unique identifiers that identifying and repatriating my remains would not be an issue..

 

[hvulin]

First of all, Hrvoje, I was just in Zagreb, Croatia last month, and I wish I'd recalled your location. I would have looked you up and bought you a beer! Next time.....

ah, maybe next time... there are more of us here on scubaboard!

Second, the most important bit of information on your DAN tag is the name, location, and contact phone number of your primary care physician. The DAN tag is on you (not attached to your gear on whatever charter boat you dove off) because if you are found incapacitated, unconscious, unresponsive, (or dead - but thats a different set of issues,) etc. the finder will hopefully do something to try to help you.

But what?

You may have a heart condition, you may have diabetes, you may have low blood pressure, etc. etc.

If you are found unconscious by another diver, the DAN tag rapidly establishes who you are, who your Doctor is (who may be able to shed some light on your condition and what the probable causation of your distress is), and gives that persons phone number to call. This is helpful to DAN physicians to try to determine whether you are suffering from some sort of barotrauma or have had a heart attack, stroke, or other issue related to your medications, medical condition, or your medical history.

If you're a person in moderate health and middle-aged, and you're going to go diving in some remote vacation destination, clipping a DAN tag off somewhere on your rig isn't a bad idea at all in my humble opinion.

For what its worth.

hm, DAN europe doesn't provide this or I just didn't get it! but they did send me DAN stickers, wow! our health care system is a little bit different and I'm not sure my doctor would be able to help much... (last time she saw me was like 3-4 years ago)

maybe next year...